For a quick reminder of what makes a team with the oldest lineup in the majors the continued favorite to win a third straight World Series – even with one unicorn tied behind its back – take a long, close look at this week's series at Great American Ball Park.
Or for mercy's sake, if you're a Cincinnati Reds fan, just read about it here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers send as many Cy Young Awards to the mound for starts against the Reds this week as there are games in the series. And that doesn't even count who's listed for Thursday's series finale (somebody they call TBA).
Two of the four CYAs belong to left-hander Tarik Skubal, the former Detroit Tigers ace the Dodgers acquired at the trade deadline, who started this week's opener.
For the second time in a week Skubal rolled the Reds, this time pitching seven scoreless innings in a 4-1 win that clinched the Dodgers' 14th consecutive playoff berth.

#week #World

There are many things that Manchester City and Manchester United have in common - but one thing decisively separates them this season.
Based just five miles apart and united by a shared desire to return to the top of the Premier League, their gameplans are almost diametrically opposed.
The best teams in the world often play in similar ways, as demonstrated in last season's Champions League final between between Paris St-Germain and ******* nal - teams who use similar shapes, look to dominate the ball, and encourage rotations into fixed positions.
But looking ahead to Sunday's Manchester derby, expect to see City boss Enzo Maresca and his United counterpart Michael Carrick field teams teams that play in a totally different way to each other.
In short, City use a rigid structure with players precisely positioned, while United have a more fluid approach that has some positional guidelines but allows players the freedom to roam - here is how it works in detail.

#league #similar

There's was no way a matchup between the Cincinnati Hills League's two heavyweights would end quietly.
Wyoming and Indian Hill traded blows for four quarters on Friday, Sept. 11, then traded touchdowns through three overtimes before the Cowboys finally found a way to stop one of Ohio's best players with everything on the line.
Wyoming survived Indian Hill, 48-47, in a triple-overtime Week 4 thriller that had everything from big plays, turnovers, missed opportunities and controversy before ultimately a final defensive stand that sent the Cowboys sideline into a frenzy.
More: Cincinnati high school football Week 4 scores, highlights | Replay
More: Northern Kentucky, Indiana high school football Week 4 scores | Recap

#cincinnati #Indian #everything

The Los Angeles Rams won the offseason — Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, oh my! — but they lost their first game of the 2026 NFL regular season.
Bill Plaschke's undefeated season prediction went up in smoke when the San Francisco 49ers blew out the Rams, 27-7, in the NFL's first-ever game in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday night.
Don't let the final score deceive you. It was uglier than that. Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL MVP, threw helium **** , and Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, was quite literally invisible. The Rams as a whole looked lifeless and, well, jet-lagged.
The 49ers traveled to Melbourne last week, while the Rams decided to wait until Tuesday and landed merely 28 hours before kickoff.
Peter Schrager discussed the differing strategies on his premiere Big Day episode on ESPN:

#garrett #melbourne #game #reigning

This week's Irish Open marks the start of a strong slate of DP World Tour events that will see a large contingent of international LIV Golf players mix with some of their notable PGA Tour peers as the former await clarity on their league's future.
Jon Rahm will tee it up in Ireland alongside fellow LIV members Tyrrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, Sergio Garcia, Adrian Meronk, David Puig, Tom McKibbin, and Thomas Detry. PGA Tour players in the field include defending Irish Open champion Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Alex Fitzpatrick, and Patrick Reed, who has recently completed his one-year suspension from the PGA Tour for joining LIV in 2022.
Many of those LIV and PGA Tour players will also compete at next week's BMW PGA Championship, which is part of the DP World Tour's elevated Rolex Series and has a $9 million purse. The Irish Open, which begins Thursday, has a $6 million purse but still offers a key opportunity for LIV players to earn Official World Golf Ranking points as they remain banned from the PGA Tour amid LIV's uncertain future heading into 2027. The league laid off most of its staff last week and is still working on finalizing a new funding deal with BC Partners Credit, following the Saudi PIF's exit.
Rahm told BBC Sports on Tuesday that "time will tell" what happens regarding his playing future as he is "more than willing to fulfill" his LIV contract that has multiple years remaining reportedly still worth more than $100 million. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said last month that there are "no current plans" for another Returning Member Program like the one that brought Koepka back to the Tour in January—and was also available to Rahm and fellow LIV stars Bryson Dechambeau and Cam Smith.
While the DP World Tour will continue to provide vital playing opportunities for LIV players this fall, things could change next year. Nine LIV players, including Rahm, were granted conditional releases for the 2026 season that allowed them to retain the DP World Tour membership despite competing in some conflicting LIV events. But it is "highly unlikely" that those same conditional releases will be available in 2027, sources have previously told Front Office Sports.

#rahm #irish #future #golf

Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro bailed out the Rebels with a 48-yard field goal as time expired for a 41-38 win over Louisville on Sunday night.
The No. 9 Rebels had given up 14 straight points after taking a 38-24 lead in the fourth quarter. But an 18-yard completion from Trinidad Chambliss to Caleb Odom set up Carneiro's game-winner.
Louisville tied the game with 1:28 to go on a seven-yard TD run by QB Lincoln Kienholz. Had the Cardinals scored with less time left, it's plausible that coach Jeff Brohm would have gone for a 2-point conversion instead of a game-winning extra point. But Louisville kicked the PAT with the hope of getting the ball back or sending the game to overtime.
That did not happen as neither defense had much success in the second half. The teams combined for over 600 yards in the second half as Chambliss threw three touchdowns and rushed for another after halftime.
He finished 21-of-36 passing for 336 yards and those three touchdowns. Two of them went to Deuce Alexander, who had a breakout game with five catches for 159 yards and a pair of 62-yard touchdowns in that second half. Alexander, who is in his second year with the Rebels after transferring from Wake Forest, didn't top the 100-yard mark in any game in 2025.

#touchdowns

Michael Reschke believes Max Eberl's decision to publicly make João Palhinha, Bryan Zaragoza and Sacha Boey available for transfer did not hurt Bayern Munich's chances of getting a good deal for the three players.
Eberl was remarkably open about the trio throughout the summer, making it clear that Bayern Munich no longer planned with them and that the club was willing to let them leave.
Reschke, however, does not believe that public approach necessarily reduced their market value.
"Well, they certainly didn't become more expensive as a result. However, I ******* ume that these statements by Max were coordinated internally," Reschke told Abendzeitung.
There is an important distinction in that ******* sment. Eberl was not publicly criticizing the players or suggesting that Bayern Munich desperately needed to get rid of them. Instead, he was communicating the club's sporting plans and making it clear that there were opportunities for interested teams.

#publicly #clear

This marks the first time an all-electric manufacturer will take part in the Australian Supercross series.
Begin press release:
Stark Future will race the full 2026 Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship, presented by Monster Energy. It is the company's first season in Australia, and the first time an electric motorcycle manufacturer takes the start gate in the series.
The Stark factory team will compete across all five rounds, starting in October, with riders in both the SX1 and SX2 classes.
The announcement coincides with a landmark development for Australian Supercross: Motorcycling Australia (MA) has approved eligible electric motorcycles to compete, opening the door for electric and combustion machines to race alongside each other within the appropriate competition classes. Subject to technical regulations and approval from Motorcycling Australia (MA), AUSX has permitted eligible machines to enter directly into the relevant established classes, mirroring a global shift in the sport. This initiative was made possible through close collaboration between Stark, the federation, and AUSX promoters.

#classes #australian #motorcycling #time

Liverpool have left Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo out of their 25-man squad for the league phase of the Champions League.
Italy forward Chiesa was also initially excluded in the competition last season under former boss Arne Slot, before being added to the list after defender Giovanni Leoni suffered a long-term knee injury in September.
Chiesa, 28, is currently out injured but expected to return to training during the international break later this month.
He has struggled for first-team football at Liverpool since joining from Juventus in August 2024.
Japan midfielder Endo, 33, has been an unused substitute for manager Andoni Iraola's side in their two league games so far this season, but he misses out too, with 21-year-old James McConnell making the cut.

#chiesa #wataru #arne

EDITOR'S NOTE: Coaches are reminded to send in game results each weeknight, from 6-10 p.m., by emailing them to pjsportsprovidencejournal.com.
Moses Brown's AlexanderHolland scored an unassisted goal 27 minutes into the first half, and that was the only score in this season-opening contest between the Quakers and Avengers on Wednesday.
In net, Haven Knapp had four saves for Moses Brown, while Brady Parks had three for East Greenwich.
A tight match on the pitch was decided when Morgan Williams scored the Lions' second goal with seven seconds remaining. He was ***** isted by Mason Simpson. Williams ***** isted in the first half on Lincoln's first goal, scored by Jaxon Harris.
Valter Teixeira scored the Warriors' goal in the second half with an ***** ist from captain Kevin Ramos.

#goal #williams #assisted #note

Ismael Saibari recently went back to the Netherlands to officially bid his old club PSV Eindhoven goodbye after completing a move to Bayern Munich:
In this clip, a whole section of PSV fans chanted his name:
Here, you can see more pictures of Saibari inside the stadium and photos of fans holding up flags bearing the Moroccan doing his signature salute celebration:
Saibari hit the ground running for Bayern Munich, impressing the club with his performances in preseason and making an impact on his Bundesliga debut. "Isi", as he is affectionately called within the team, bagged two ****** ists in Bayern's opening match of the Bundesliga season against Stuttgart in which he ****** isted the final two goals of a 5-1 rout. In doing so, he joins a club of players who bagged a brace of ****** ists on their Bundesliga debut.
The moment he scored that equalizer on a chilly January night in Eindhoven in the Champions League, Bayern knew they had to keep tabs on him. That decision was solidified in the World Cup after the 24-year-old shone on the world stage for Morocco. Bayern worked extensively behind the scenes and got their man, and hopefully he'll give the Bavarians that edge to fulfill their quest for glory.

#club #eindhoven #World

Klay Thompson's father has warned the critics of his son ahead of the new season.
Following a disappointing two-year stint with the Dallas Mavericks, Klay Thompson agreed to a contract buyout with the Western Conference side.
At 36, Thompson is undoubtedly out of his prime, but it didn't take long for the 4x NBA champion to find his next destination.
Thompson quickly agreed to a two-year deal with the Miami Heat as he is all set to become teammates with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Opus Bank

#thompson #following #dallas

Louisville men's basketball coach Pat Kelsey had an eventful evening Friday, Aug. 28, at Louisville Slugger Field.
Bobbleheads of the Cardinals head coach were handed out as fans entered the concourse, and he then made his way to the field where he would throw out the first pitch ahead of the Louisville Bats' game against the Gwinnett Stripers. Kelsey, a lifelong Reds fan, was able to meet former Cincinnati center fielder Eric Davis, which he deemed "unbelievable."
Prior to making his way to the mound, Kelsey practiced his pitch with Bats third base coach Vince Harrison, who wore a Kentucky T-shirt as he played catch with the UofL head coach. Harrison, who played football and baseball for the Wildcats, made sure to let Kelsey know he scored the first-ever touchdown at Louisville's L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.
"We thought it would be funny," Kelsey said. "He asked me if he could catch me in the school down the street's shirt, and I said, 'Hey, what the heck?'"
Following practice, to which he brought a glove, Kelsey stepped up on the ******* p and threw a pitch across home plate.

#harrison

Bayern Munich prepares to host VFB Stuttgart in the opening match of the new Bundesliga season on Friday at the Allianz Arena.
Date: Friday, 28th August.
Kick-off: 7:30pm BST.
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich.
Jamal Musiala is officially ruled out for FC Bayern Munich's Bundesliga season opener.

#bayern #arena

The 2026 football season is here.
Come Friday night, Aug. 28, teams across central Pennsylvania will kick off the 2026 football season with their first games of the year. After months of waiting, football is finally back.
Week 1 Preview: Breaking down the SCAC's Week 1 football games
Gridiron gamers: Meet the GameTimePA Football 50, top players to watch in 2026
But before area teams hit the field for their first games, we wanted to pan out and take a look at the bigger picture. What teams are looking like the heavy hitters early on and who's in line to keep their spots atop the hill in District 3?

#Football #come #Friday

Alma Center Lincoln has canceled its next football game following the death of a player who was inured during their last game.
Max Preps, a high school sports website, said the Red Raiders had a Friday, Aug. 28 home game against the Cornell Chiefs.
Adam Massman, an Alma Center senior, died last week from injuries he sustained during a game. EMTs were at the game and Massman was taken to the hospital.
Drew Semingson, the district's superintendent, said canceling the game "isn't reflective of any long-term plans at this time for the football season."
More: Adam Massman remembered for love of sports, family and cattle

#game

Chelsea are close to securing another loan deal for a defender, with a La Liga move on the cards for Mamadou Sarr.
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Chelsea are in the middle of playing Fulham right now, but that hasn't stopped some serious transfer action in the background.
A number of deals have advanced today, and for once we had one not broken by Fabrizio Romano. It was Santi Aouna of Footmercato's turn today, and he had a report on the loan deal for Mamadou Sarr. A deal is done for Sarr to join Real Sociedad on loan without a buy option.
Interestingly, Xabi Alonso is said to have played a "key role" in helping the player choose his old club as his destination.

#deal #mamadou #talk #Google

The Los Angeles Rams steamrolled the New Orleans Saints on Saturday afternoon at SoFi Stadium, cruising to a 34-0 win. The Rams didn't play a single starter once again, and even their primary backups were held out of action as a precaution before Week 1.
Interestingly, several other players who may have been flirting with the roster bubble were also kept on the sidelines after playing in the first game last week against the Chiefs. For some, it's a sign that they've all but secured a roster spot, but it's not guaranteed that all five will make the team.
Smith played a lot in the preseason opener, and he stood out as both a receiver and returner. It may have been enough for the coaching staff to feel good about him as their punt returner and backup receiver. It's likely that the team held him out to avoid any potential injury, given the role he's expected to play this season.
Smith was always likely to make the team thanks to his return skills, and his performance in the first preseason game probably locked up his roster spot.
Limmer played 63% of the snaps in the opener against the Chiefs but didn't see the field at all on Saturday. That's a good sign for the third-year lineman, who was likely to make the team anyway. He offers great versatility at guard and center, and the Rams may need him if Justin Dedich takes extra time to get up to speed after missing the entire summer due to a hand injury suffered at home in July.

#team #roster #chiefs #didn 't

Real Madrid face another league fixture with significant changes in the squad traveling for the game. José Mourinho spoke at a press conference to preview the match against RCD Espanyol in Barcelona. During his appearance, the Portuguese coach confirmed the absences of Endrick and Aurélien Tchouameni.
The most notable absence among the recent arrivals is Endrick. The Brazilian forward has been left out of the squad and will not travel with the group. As the coach himself explained, he is the only unavailable player who is not carrying issues over from last season.
For his part, Tchouameni will also not wear the Real Madrid shirt this Saturday in Cornellà. Although the French midfielder is recovering well from his physical issues, the coaching staff have decided not to take any risks and to keep him on a specific training plan to complete his return to full fitness.
"Tchouameni has to train today, tomorrow, and Sunday to speed up his process. He arrived in a condition that does not allow him to be ready for this match," Mourinho said regarding the French midfielder's fitness.
To cover these absences and complete the squad list, the coach from Setúbal will turn to the Valdebebas academy. Academy players Mario Rivas, Joan Martínez and Alexis Ciria will be on the bench against Espanyol.

#tchouameni #coach #madrid

Liverpool have made a clear call on James McConnell, and it matters more than it might first appear. A loan to Preston North End was lined up, a deal was in place, regular football had effectively been mapped out, and then the club stopped it. That is not administrative drift. It is a football decision.
According to Lewis Steele for the Daily Mail, Liverpool have "pulled the plug" on the move after Andoni Iraola decided McConnell is part of his plans. The key detail here is simple, McConnell forced the issue on the pitch and in training. If a manager changes course late in the window, it usually means the player has done something tangible, not cosmetic.
This also comes at a moment when Liverpool's midfield is shifting. Curtis Jones is heading towards Inter Milan in a £30m move, ending a long ***** ociation with his boyhood club. That departure alters the internal arithmetic. Minutes open up, squad roles change, and players on the edge of the first-team picture suddenly move closer to the centre.
Photo by IMAGO
McConnell is 21, homegrown, tactically reliable and already familiar with senior demands at Liverpool. He featured in four pre-season matches and started the closed-doors game against Como, playing an hour. That is relevant because coaches do not hand those minutes out for sentiment. They use them to test trust, positioning and decision-making.

#mcconnell #move #decision #preston

If you're Luka Dončić, the business of basketball is quite a thing.
Not only was he traded from the Dallas Mavericks, the team that drafted him, to the bright lights of the Los Angeles Lakers, seemingly without any advanced notice; he will, this season, be playing for his fifth different ownership group in the past three years.
Mark Walter, who officially purchased a majority stake in the Lakers from the Buss family in October 2025, agreed last week — amid an ongoing federal investigation into alleged fraud in his lending practices — to sell control of the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner.
Neither Iger nor Kushner has ever run a professional sports franchise.
That may not seem like such a big deal. Dončić entered the NBA as the No. 3 overall pick (should have been No. 1), made the All-NBA First Team in his second season and earned a maximum designated rookie contract extension from the Mavericks. He now gets to play for the Lakers, the league's most fabled franchise, on a three-year, $160 million extension.

#team #kushner #franchise

Lakers get Klay Thompson update that Los Angeles shouldn't be surprised about originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers simply have a need for more talent on both sides of the basketball, though at this stage of the offseason, nearly entering September, there aren't a slew of ways for them to do so. The Lakers will have some opportunities to improve, at least before the trade deadline when the season gets going, but for now, Los Angeles has to hope things go its way.
It remains uncertain how things will play out, but the Lakers definitely have their eyes set on Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson.
Thompson, who isn't the same player that he once was, would still be a nice addition. He's already played with Luka Doncic, even if it was short-lived, and that showed a lot of promise. While the Lakers have some interest, the Mavericks have yet to decide on his future in Dallas.
"Two sources briefed on the process said this week that it remains unclear how the situation will play out. Dallas currently has 16 standard contracts on its books — one more than the league maximum that will be allowed as of Oct. 19 — but Thompson's fate remained undecided as of Sunday," Marc Stein wrote.

#dallas

Marc Casado's future appears certain to be decided away from Barcelona, but a move to Saudi Arabia is not currently part of the midfielder's preferred plan.
According to SPORT, the Barcelona academy graduate is open to leaving the club but wants to remain in European football, where he believes he can continue competing at the highest level and play an important role for his next team.
As a result, the Saudi Arabia route suddenly becomes uncertain, despite Barcelona's interest in a financially attractive sale and continued efforts from Al-Hilal to sign the midfielder.
The Barcelona sporting management is looking to accelerate departures as they attempt to clear **** e in the squad and improve their salary situation.
Casado is reluctant to move to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

#saudi #casado